JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A plan to build affordable housing in Northwest Jacksonville is up for discussion at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
As Action News Jax Zion Decoteau reports, the new homes would be built near Charles “Boobie” Clark Park and Pool.
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The area is east of Sabal Road, north of Soutel Drive, and west of the Shops of Sherwood.
“It’s a good plan, people need houses,” Jacksonville resident Johnathan McCloud said.
The first phase of the proposal calls for negotiations over two outparcels totaling about 3.45 acres, while Council would also express support for a future transfer of the entire park property for later phases.
“The rent for one thing needs to come down. Can’t afford affordable housing, a lot of these houses are old houses,” McCloud said.
Action News Jax told you in June that the mayor, the city council, and the federal government are collaborating to build “starter” or “manufactured” homes in Jacksonville.
“This is an opportunity for us to provide high-quality housing for people at a lower cost. And that frankly is still where we’re way behind,” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan (D) Jacksonville said at the time.
In June, the group signed a letter of intent to allow a contractor out of Alabama to begin building starter homes in Sherwood Forrest, which officials say are visually indistinguishable from traditional homes.
They said the purpose is to provide a more affordable homeownership option for Jacksonville residents, as well as cut down on home construction times and building material waste.
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We also told you in June that the Jacksonville City Council certified an updated list of 15 parcels of surplus land considered suitable for affordable housing development.
It’s not clear if the Boobie Park land is a part of that effort.
McCloud said the proposed development would serve the good people of the community well.
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“Friendly people, God giving people, a lot of them,” McCloud said.
We will continue to follow any developments that come from the city council on this matter both on air and online at actionnewsjax.com.
We reached out to Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman’s office, as she represents the area. She was not immediately available for comment.
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